Sylvester L. Marthaler, 86

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, Jan. 12, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Belle Prairie, with Father Jerry Nordick officiating. Burial was at Holy Family Parish Cemetery in Belle Prairie.

Sylvester L. Marthaler was born Sept. 27, 1926, in Osakis, to the late Simon and Clara (Walz) Marthaler. Sylvester was united in marriage to Adella Thieschafer, Oct. 4, 1949, at St. Paul’s in Sauk Centre. He worked on his parents’ arm until he was ready for the army. After finishing his basic training and with duffel bag in hand, he waited to get on the ship that would take him to Germany. It was then he got a call about a tragedy at home. His 14-year-old brother was killed by an accident on the farm which meant he had to leave the Army to help work the farm. Butch made the rounds for where he worked. After leaving the farm, he went to work for a boat works in Little Falls. The boat works built fiberglass boats under many names until it closed. From there he went to another fiberglass plant in Red Wing until he got a call from Woodland Container in Aitkin, a much smaller town than Red Wing and much more to his liking. It was there he joined the Ironton American legion and remained a member for over 40 years. He worked in Aitkin, while living in Crosby and then moving to Aitkin, until it was time for retirement. He and his wife, Adella, decided since they now had a choice, they would move back to Little Falls with friends, family and location where they felt the most comfortable. He had three basic hobbies, building, fishing and talking. He and his wife went through a lot of houses and there wasn’t one of them that was just right. Something always had to be changed, painted or added on to. The fishing he liked best was pan fishing. At times when they were biting fast but were small, he talked about, never tried, his shirt pocket test. You open the bottom of your pocket, put the pan fish in and if it falls through and back in the water it was too small.

Sylvester is survived by his sons, Rick (Sandy) Marthaler of Blaine and Larry Marthaler of St. Cloud; sister, Cathy Rue of Tracy; four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Sylvester was preceded in death by his parents, Simon and Clara Marthaler; wife, Adella; brothers, Carl and Alfred Marthaler.